A few days ago, I decided to spring clean my house. After moving furniture around and vacuuming everywhere, I suddenly noticed that there were black spots all over the hardwood flooring in various parts of my home! I was horrified and quickly realized that I needed a solution, which is why I put this list of tips together to help you eliminate black spots on a wooden floor.
There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing that the beautiful hardwood flooring in your home is covered with black spots. This article will show you how to get rid of black spots on wooden floors using quick, simple, and affordable methods. I will also show you how to protect your hardwood floors in the future.
Now, let us take a closer look at eliminating the black spots on your wooden floor.
What Are the Dark Spots on the Hardwood Floors?
The dark spots on hardwood flooring occur as a result of various factors. These could include changes in the weather resulting in mold or mildew, urine from pets like dogs and cats, discoloration from wood stains, and various others. Even though it can seem worrying, don’t forget that removing dark spots on hardwood flooring is much easier than you might think!
Also Read: Best vacuum for pet hair and hardwood floors and carpet
Causes of Dark Spots on the Hardwood Floors
Various factors can cause dark spots on hardwood floors. These include:
- Dog urine or feces
- Mold or mildew
- Water stains
- Stains from chemicals (these include spilled milk and chemicals from household cleaning products)
How to Remove the Dark Spots on the Hardwood Floors?
When it comes to removing dark spots from wooden flooring, there are multiple solutions that you can try out! The methods provided in the list below use products and ingredients that are easy to find at any supermarket and hardware store. I’ve also made sure to include easily accessible products so that many people can try out these methods without any trouble!
Use bleach
Bleach is an excellent product for getting rid of dark spots on the floor because it can help you lighten the area and disinfect it simultaneously. Before using the bleach, please ensure that you work in a ventilated area by opening all the windows. You must also wear gloves and protective glasses.
To try out this method, you must do the following:
- Combine one cup of bleach with one gallon of hot water in a bucket.
- Using a sponge or a piece of cloth, dip it in the bleach and water mixture, then rub the dark stains with the cloth.
- Repeat this process as many times as possible until you can no longer see the stain.
Use white vinegar
White vinegar is one of the best products that a home could have. Aside from working wonders in cooking, it also serves as a cleaning and disinfecting agent. I’d recommend that you keep a large quantity of white vinegar in your pantry at all times so that you can use it whenever there’s an issue!
For this method, you will need to do the following:
- Combine two cups of water with two cups of vinegar in a large bowl or plastic container.
- Next, using a plastic brush or sponge, dip the cleaning implement in the vinegar mixture and gently scrub the dark spots on the floor.
- Scrub the spots at least three or four times, or until you can no longer see the spots.
- Once you are sure that the spots have disappeared, wipe the area with a dry cloth to remove any traces of the vinegar and water.
Sand the areas that are discolored
To try this method, you can use a small handheld sander if you have one or use a piece of sandpaper. Your local hardware store will definitely stock sandpaper.
Here’s how you can try out this method:
- First, clean the black spots on your wooden floor. You can do this by mopping it or using a sponge, soap, and water.
- Next, dry the area with a clean cloth. Cleaning and drying the black spots on your floor can help you sand it down more quickly.
- Once the area is clean, sand it down using a piece of sandpaper or the handheld sander. It would be best if you sanded the flooring in the same direction as the wood grain.
- Take care not to sand the flooring too much because if you do, you could create a noticeable divot in your wood floor, and the overall beauty of it will be ruined.
Try using baking soda and white vinegar
If you haven’t tried this method yet, then now is a good time to do so! The combination of white vinegar and baking soda can help you get solve multiple household-related problems, from killing insects to cleaning and removing stains on various surfaces.
Here’s how you use vinegar and baking soda to remove black spots on wooden flooring:
- Make a paste using vinegar and baking soda. I’ve refrained from giving you exact measurements because you will be able to correct the mixture by sight.
- Once you’ve got a thick paste, use your hands to apply it to the black spots on your floor.
- Let the paste sit for some time, at least half an hour, and let it dry completely.
- After the paste is completely dry, use a soft and dry piece of cloth and wipe it away. The stain should be completely gone.
Also Read: What Causes Yellow Stains in Bathtub
How to Protect the Beauty of Your Hardwood Floor?
Now that you’ve gotten rid of the black spots on your wooden flooring, the next step is to maintain its beauty and prevent it from getting damaged in the future. Here’s how you can do that:
- Clean your floors regularly.
- If the hardwood floor gets wet, deal with it immediately. Once water seeps into the wood, you could risk damaging it forever.
- Use rugs and carpets in as many areas as possible to protect it from scratches and dirt.
- Cover your floor with a protective wood coating every six months or every year.
Wrapping Up
In this article, I showed you how to get rid of black spots on your hardwood flooring. Wooden flooring is beautiful and adds an extra layer of aesthetic appeal to any home. However, if you fail to maintain it properly, you risk damaging it over time. Once you try out some of the methods in this article, I hope you’re inspired and motivated to keep your floor clean and beautiful forever!
